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Licensed Product key activation issues

SuperTrooper317

Posted 20 February 2006 - 03:35 PM

SuperTrooper317

New Member

Member

5 posts

Let me see if I can get this straight. My supervisor just rebuilt his computer. He was an old Win98 fan and he finally decided to upgrade. He was given as a gift a retail version of Windows XP upgrade. He installed his '98 after formatting, then ran the upgrade. After that, he installed one of the Norton's Suites. He kept having conflicts when he tried to any type of system scan (i.e. virus scan or file search through windows). He reformatted and reinstalled several times with the same problem. Since he was having so many problems and taking so long to re-install, I loaned him a licensed OEM full version of Windows XP that came with a Dell system I had bought, thinking he could use his product code.

When he tried to activate, he is prompted to call Microsoft. Microsoft said they could not activate an OEM version with a retail upgrade version.

I applaud the man because he is trying to be completely legal and legit when so many don't and he is having so many problems. He now has his computer running great without any conflicts and doesn't want to have to reinstall to activate. I hope this makes since and that someone can advise a way to make his product key work.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated

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Retired Tech

Posted 20 February 2006 - 03:41 PM

Retired Tech

Retired Staff

Retired Staff

20,563 posts

There is probably an obscure registry entry which differentiates between the two versions, if the PC won't activate it and Microsoft won't activate it he will either need to buy a license to get a product code to keep using the installed copy, or re-install, though he could ask Microsoft to look at the upgrade disc

Another thing worth considering is a good format of the drive with the hard drive manufacturer's utility or a programme like boot and nuke

SuperTrooper317

Posted 20 February 2006 - 03:45 PM

SuperTrooper317

New Member

Topic Starter

Member

5 posts

I was afraid that a reformatting was in order, but one of the MS techs was about to tell him how to activate then hesitated and said she could not do it. As though she could, but was not allowed to. I do appreciate the help though.

-=blaster=-

Posted 20 February 2006 - 03:47 PM

-=blaster=-

Member

Member

181 posts

If I am not mistaken, when "upgrading" to XP, install XP as if it were the full version. At some point the installer will ask for the "previous version disk". Insert said disk and you should be good to go.